Tom Woodard suspends California governor bid and backs Steve Hilton

By AI, Created 8:50 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Libertarian candidate Tom Woodard has ended his campaign for California governor and endorsed Republican Steve Hilton, saying Hilton offers the best path to curb bureaucracy, lower costs and improve wildfire and land management. The move could help Hilton widen his appeal with voters looking for a cross-party alternative to Sacramento politics.

Why it matters: - Tom Woodard’s exit from the governor’s race removes a Libertarian candidate from the California field and channels his supporters toward Steve Hilton. - The endorsement adds a cross-party signal for Hilton as he courts voters focused on government restraint, energy costs and wildfire prevention. - The announcement frames California’s policy debate around practical governance rather than strict party loyalty.

What happened: - Tom Woodard suspended his campaign for governor of California and endorsed Republican candidate Steve Hilton. - Woodard made the announcement in a joint video recorded last week. - Woodard called on all Libertarians to back Hilton for governor. - Hilton responded publicly to the endorsement and welcomed Woodard’s support.

The details: - Woodard is the Libertarian Party-endorsed candidate for governor and the founder of Plant with Purpose. - Woodard said he concluded that a Libertarian candidate had no path to victory and should align with the one candidate who could change California governance. - Woodard cited Hilton’s Smart Conservation Revival plan, including the California Conservation Corps Alliance, as a key reason for the endorsement. - Woodard said California is facing bureaucracy, rising costs, wildfires and failed top-down policies. - Woodard said Hilton has the only real plan to restore freedom, manage natural lands, reduce wildfire risk, lower energy and housing costs, and help working families. - Hilton said government has become a bloated nanny state that interferes with daily life, business, child-rearing, housing, driving and cooking. - Hilton described Woodard as a principled supporter of limited government and environmental stewardship. - The announcement said the alliance supports natural carbon sequestration, forest restoration, wildfire prevention and economic relief without new taxes or burdensome mandates. - Woodard’s background statement says Plant with Purpose has planted tens of millions of trees worldwide through community-driven restoration. - Woodard has campaigned on Smart Conservation Revival, abundant energy and water policies, and reducing regulatory burdens on California families.

Between the lines: - The endorsement suggests some anti-establishment voters may be more open to a Republican message if it is packaged around liberty, conservation and cost relief. - The joint appearance also gives Hilton a way to widen his coalition without moving away from his core critique of state government. - Woodard’s decision signals that third-party candidates may see more influence through endorsements than through staying in a race they view as unwinnable.

What’s next: - Woodard is expected to continue urging Libertarian voters to support Hilton. - Hilton will likely use the endorsement to highlight his appeal to voters outside the Republican base. - The campaign will test whether a libertarian-to-Republican alliance can translate into broader support in California’s governor’s race.

The bottom line: - Woodard’s suspension and endorsement turn his campaign into a boost for Hilton and underscore how cost, freedom and wildfire politics are reshaping California’s governor’s race.